Improvement in corn-planters



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com PLANTER. No.185,591. Patented Dec. 19, 1876.

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CORN PLANTER. N0.185,591. Patented Dec.19, 1876.

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UNITED STATES PATENT QFFICE.

THOMAS SPARKS, OF OLAYSVILLE, KENTUCKY.

IMPROVEMENT IN CORN-PLANTERS.

Specification forming part of Letters Patent N 0. 185,591, datedDecember 19, 1876; application filed October 7, 1876.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, THOMAS SPARKS, of Olaysville, in the county ofHarrison and State of Kentucky, have invented a new and valuableImprovement in Corn-Planters; and I do hereby declare that the followingis a full,

clear, and exact description of the construction and operation of thesame, reference being had to the annexed drawings, making a part of thisspecification, and to the letters and figures of reference markedthereon.

Figure 1 of the drawings is a representation of a central verticalsection of my cornplanter, and Fig. 2 is a plan view of the same. Fig. 3is a longitudinal vertical sectional view thereof. Fig. 4 is an end viewof my corn-planter.

This inventionrelates to corn-planters; and it consists in theconstruction and arrangement hereinafter particularly described.

In the annexed drawings, A A designate the transporting-wheels of mycorn-planter, which wheels are connected by an axle, B, which supports,by the middle, the vehicleframe 0. D D are standards rising verticallyfrom said axle, and supporting a rotating shaft, E, which is journaledtherein, and provided with two double cranks, e 6. One end 7 which isconnected, by an endless belt, cord, or chain, f, to a larger pulley, G,secured to and turning with one of the wheels A. As said shaft rotates,each one of said double cranks e 6 gives horizontal motion to one of twopitmen, H H, which operate feeding-slides I I. Said slides reciprocatelongitudinally on top of the side beams of frame 0. They are pivotallyconnected to the bent rear ends of said pitmen or connecting-rods H H,and are guided in their vibrations by bent rods or staples J J. Saidslides are provided with grain-feeding pockets 2' 2', each of which isadapted to receive a charge of grain and deposit the same in one of twodropping-tubes, K K, which pass down through frame 0. Said slidesreciprocate in recesses ll at the bottom and front of ordinaryseed-boxes L.

The operation of the above-described parts is as usual whenreciprocating feeding-slides are employed.

M designates a seat for .the driver, which is supported on rods m mabove the middle of axle B. N is an ordinary draft-tongue, secured toframe (J in the usual manner. 0 U are standards attached by their upperends to the under side of frame 0, in front of dropping-tubes K K, andprovided at their lower ends with plow-points P P, which operate to.make furrows for the reception of the corn or other seed. To frame 0,on the upper side thereof, and behind said seed-boxes L L, are secureduprights Q Q, which support an up per lengthwise-slotted cross-bar, it.The slot 1' in said cross-bar is vertical, and allows the motion, fromside to side, of a vertical adjusting-lever, S, which is pivoted to alower crossbar, T, and vibrates at right angles to the line of draft.The lower end of said adj usting-lever is connected, by rods or links Ift, to the pivoted lower portions U U of standards U U, which carry atvtheir extreme lower ends plow-points V V, designed for covering the cornafter it is planted. Said lower parts or sections U are pivoted to theupper parts of 'said standards, so as to have lateral vibration. Thus,when the upper end of said adjusting-lever is turned to either side, thesaid covering plow-points are both adjusted in the opposite direction.Said standards are provided with brace-rods o 1;, which are each securedby one end to frame 0, and by the other end to the pivoted lowerportions U of one of said standards, allowing vertical motion, butpreventing said lower portions from being strained backward, so as tosever its connection. The upper ends of said standards U are extendedthrough, and considerably above, frame 0. The said upper ends of saidstandards are also connected by arms to w on rockshaft W, which isjournaled to the back of uprights Q Q. From one end of said rockshaft alover or long arm, X, extends forward beyond the drivers seat. When saidlever is depressed said plow-points V V are raised out of engagementwith the ground. When said lever is raised plow-points V V are made toengage again therewith. To the top of crossbar R, previously described,are pivoted two blocks, Z Z, one at each end of slot r. Said blocks foldinward toward one another, but are too long for both of them to occupy ahorizontal position at the same time. Said blocks are provided at theircontiguous ends with recesses z 2, which correspond to the shape of theupper end of adjusting-lever S. Said blocks are used for locking saidlever in either of its lateral adjustments, but only one of them is usedfor each of these lockings. Various modifications may be made withoutdeparting from the spirit of my invention.

What I claim as new, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, 'is' 1. Thecombination of slotted cross-bar R with lever S, rods or links t t, andstandards U U, provided with laterally-adjustable pivoted sections orlower ends U U, substantially as and for the purpose set forth.

2. The combination of slotted cross-bar R with lever S, rod or link t t,standards U U, havin g pivoted ends U U", and locking-blocks Z Z,substantially as and forthe purpose set forth.

3. The combination of lever X with rockshaft W, arms w w, andvertically-sliding standards U U, extended through and above frame 0,substantially as and for the purpose set forth. 7

In testimony that I claim the above I have hereunto subscribed my namein the presence of two witnesses.

THOMAS SPARKS. Witnesses:

OSCAR ASHORAFT, E. M. TAYLOR.

